Gerard T. Ruflin

Gerard T. Ruflin Gerard ‘Jerry’ Ruflin traveled on from this earth on February 9th, the cause was having lived fully for 92 years and 10 days. Jerry was born on January 31st 1925 in Rochester NY, the youngest of 4 children of Marie (Mary) Hasler Ruflin and Josef Ruflin. Jerry lived a long and amazing life and is predeceased by many beloved family members, including his mother and father, his sister Agatha and brothers Joseph and Bernard, his son Michael Gerard Ruflin, wife Margaret Schulenberg Ruflin and second wife Eloise Christensen Ruflin, as well as many friends. He is survived by his son Thomas Ruflin, daughter Anne Ruflin, son Scott Ruflin, and daughter Joan Ruflin Morabito as well as 15 grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends. Jerry’s early life was spent living on a small farm in Chili, NY. He attended a one- room schoolhouse from grades 1-8, before going on to Madison High School in Rochester. Upon graduating first in his class from high school, Jerry attended Brown University under a Navy ROTC scholarship, an experience he credits with giving him an education that remained relevant through the passage of time. He graduated from Brown University in 1947, having served tours of duty as an officer in the Navy during WWII while continuing his college education. After graduation, he started working as a mechanical engineer, and eventually retired from Rochester Products in 1980. After retirement he worked as an independent consultant for several more years before fully retiring and moving to Spring Hills, Florida. He returned to live at Ferris Hills in Canandaigua NY in 2010. Jerry was a vibrant, curious, and creative man who loved to travel and explore the world. He was a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend, and a man of great intelligence, compassion, humor, and humility. Jerry enjoyed golf and bowling, going to plays and concerts, and reading or listening to books on tape. He liked a good, dry martini in the winter or a cold beer in summer. In some circles he was known as an excellent dancer. He enjoyed a good game of Euchre and was known to call trump on nothing and still manage to win the hand. He loved to watch the full moon rise up over Canandaigua Lake. Jerry embraced all life had to offer – he faced heartbreaks and disappointments with courage and loved and lived fearlessly to the end. We shall miss him dearly. A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Saturday February 11, 2017 at 2PM at Ferris Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to FF Thompson Foundation at 350 Parrish St, Canandaigua, NY 14424 or to Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service, 756 Pre-emption Rd, Geneva NY 14456.